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Topic: Alternator fault ? (Read 530 times) |
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Alternator fault ?
« on: Dec 8th, 2006, 3:21am » |
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Have had a problem recently with non-starting, due to a flat battery.
Battery is a 9 month old, 610 amp, calsium battery.
Had the battery tested & it is apparently fine.
Checked the dash readout at tickover & it ranges between 13 & 13.2 volts........thought it was supposed to be 14.4 volts.
Dash readout when engine off & sidelights on says 11.80 volts.
Does anyone reckon my alternator is on it's way out ?
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #1 on: Dec 8th, 2006, 7:09am » |
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J/C, This article on battery replacement indicates that the minimum CCA is 650 and with higher specs a higher figure is preferable. Higher spec obviously relates to amount of current used and as yours is an Ultima plus it has,no doubt, additional electrical items for your job I would suggest that the battery is struggling to cope. 
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Highlander
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Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
Posts: 8244
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #2 on: Dec 8th, 2006, 11:19am » |
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Yep, a higher rated battery is recommended but the dash readout is low too, possibly the alternator right enough
mine reads higher than that, usually around the 13.5 - 13. 8 mark
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:I give up !  Too much for an old boy!  |
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TiberiuS
Senior Member
Ex. 1996 2.3 Ultima - RIP P789 KHJ
Posts: 2257
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #3 on: Dec 8th, 2006, 6:38pm » |
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May be worth putting a multimeter on the battery to check the voltage, mine reads a bit low in the cab but it's really at 14.2.
I'm sure the battery on my 2.3 is a 680 amp, I'll check for you 
Regards, Bruce.
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Bruce - '07 Jaguar XKR coupe, '95 Jaguar XJ Sport 4.0, '82 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia, '15 Honda Civic (sloooooww..)
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #4 on: Dec 30th, 2006, 1:21am » |
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Just bought a second hand alternator from Spikies Scorpios (they seem genuinely nice & helpful guys)
Car is running fine again with no battery problems.
My only slight concern is that the battery readout on the dash diagnostic is saying 14.6 volts with nothing electrical switched on.
But when lights, radio, heater etc are all turned on, the voltage doesn't drop below 14.2.
The muti-meter readings from the battery say the same.
The battery doesn't seem to be getting hot (over-charging).
Am I being paranoid.........or is there a chance that it could start over loading (cooking) the battery? 
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harry.m1byt
Full Member
What's YaBB?
Posts: 792
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #5 on: Dec 30th, 2006, 7:57pm » |
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on Dec 30th, 2006, 1:21am, jonnycab wrote:My only slight concern is that the battery readout on the dash diagnostic is saying 14.6 volts with nothing electrical switched on.
But when lights, radio, heater etc are all turned on, the voltage doesn't drop below 14.2.
The battery doesn't seem to be getting hot (over-charging).
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It is usual for the alternator to initially put out a slightly higher voltage to recharge the battery after a start and until the battery is fully replenished. Check the voltage after things have settled down again, following a good run - it should settle down to 13.8 to 14.0v.
A lead acid battery needs to be charged at around 14.4v in order for it to reach a 100% charge level. Once that 100% point is achieved the maintenance charge voltage is 13.8v. Some of the more intelligent battery chargers are able to do this two stage process.
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August '95 2.9 12v auto Ultima -
Now flashing
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Alternator fault ?
« Reply #6 on: Dec 31st, 2006, 12:40am » |
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Cheers Harry
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